Poultry handling system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a system for collecting live broilers from a broiler house and depositing them in transport cages for removal to slaughter. The apparatus includes an endless belt conveyor disposed in a conduit in the floor of the broiler house exiting through a tunnel. A chaser fence crowds the birds onto the conveyor which deposits them on an enclosed elevator conveyor outside the house. The elevator conveyor deposits the birds in waiting transport cages without ever catching or individually handling each bird. The conduit in the floor of the broiler house is also used for conducting ventilating air through the broiler house and for removing litter.

United States Patent 1191 Bibler 5] Feb. 27, 1973 POULTRY HANDLINGSYSTEM Primary ExaminerHugh R. Chamblee [76] Inventor: David R. Bibler,Route 5, Russellli A k. 8 22 F! e r 72 O1 57 ABSTRACT 1 1 1971 Disclosedis a system for collecting live broilers from a PP No.1 167,951 broilerhouse and depositing them in transport cages for removal to slaughter.The apparatus includes an endless belt conveyor disposed in a conduit inthe 52 U.S. Cl. Int. Cl ggi floor of the broiler house ex1t1ng through atunnel. A [58] Field 19/15 16 22 20 82 chaser fence crowds the birdsonto the conveyor which deposits them on an enclosed elevator conveyor 5outside the house. The elevator conveyor deposits the 6] References cuedbirds in waiting transport cages without ever catching UN STATES PATENTSor individually handling each bird. The conduit in the floor of thebroiler house is also used for conducting Forbes Et al ventilating airthrough the broiler house and for 03,915 9/1963 Crain etal ..119/s2removing litter 3,110,388 11/1963 Elliott et a1 ll9/82X 14 Claims, 10Drawing Figures l' 5 I" i 1 i i I 1 1 PATENTED FE8'2 71975 sum 1 BF 5mom NON

PATENTEDFEBZYIQB 3.718.118

Y SHEET. 2 8F 6 PATENTEDFEBZY 1913 SHEET 3 BF 6 V U h mm elm) PATENTEDFEB 2 71973 SHEET 5 BF 6 POULTRY HANDLING SYSTEM This invention relatesto methods and apparatus for raising poultry. More particularly itrelates to a system for mechanically collecting poultry from a broilerhouse or the like, caging them and transporting them to slaughterwithout individually handling each bird.

In present commercial broiler raising young birds are placed in arelatively large enclosure, known as a broiler house, where they areconfined and fed until they reach the age and size suitable forslaughter. At this time the broilers are usually individually caught,placed in cages and transported to the slaughter house.

Catching broilers in a broiler house is ordinarily a time consuming anddifficult job. Conventionally a crew of up to ten men may work severalhours catching as many as 15,000 birds in a house. Each bird isindividually caught and placed in a cage for transport to the slaughterhouse. Obviously catching each bird individually is time consuming andcostly. Furthermore, the birds are often frightened by individualhandling and are likely to panic and injure themselves, frequentlyresulting in injuries to large numbers of birds, thus decreasing theirmarket value.

In accordance with the present invention a mechanical catching andcaging apparatus is provided as an integral part of the broiler housewhich eliminates individual handling of each bird. The apparatusbasically comprises an endless belt conveyor traversing substantiallythe length of the broiler house at near floor level. The conveyor exitsthe broiler house through a shroud or tunnel. A moveable chaser isincluded in the broiler house to crowd the birds toward the movingconveyor. As the birds are crowded onto the conveyor belt, the conveyormoves through the tunnel and exits the broiler house to deposit thebirds on a second endless belt conveyor mdunted on a truck or similardevice which elevates and deposits the birds in cages on a waitingtransport truck.

Since the birds are not individually handled the danger of injury toeach bird is substantially decreased. Furthermore, since the entirecatching and caging operation is substantially mechanized, as well asrapid, the cost of manual labor is minimized, thereby substantiallyreducing the overall cost of catching and transporting the birds. Usingconventional catching methods, the birds may be caged for transport aslong as ten hours. Accordingly, any bruises caused by handling willcause discolored meat which must be discarded. Using the present system,the entire flock of birds in a broiler house may be caught, caged,transported and slaughtered within 3 hours. Therefore, less bruised meatwill be rejected since the birds will be slaughtered before sufficienttime has elapsed to form discolored meat at the bruise.

The conveyor housing of the invention is permanently installed in thebroiler house at essentially floor level. The housing may thereforeadvantageously be used for other purposes such as transporting litterand the like from the broiler house. The conveyor housing may also beused as a ventilating device or for conducting heating or cooling airthrough the broiler house. Since the conveyor channel is centrallydisposed in the floor of the house, it is ideally located for conductingventilating air through the house when not in use as a conveyor housing.

Other advantages and features of the invention will become more readilyapparent from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the appended claims and attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a broiler house incorporating oneembodiment of the poultry handling system of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the conveyor system installed in thebroiler house illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the conveyor system illustrated in FIG. 1and showing the moveable chaser fence for crowding birds into theconveyor;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an elevator conveyor used in conjunction withthe invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the elevator conveyor of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial illustration of the tension mechanism at thedischarge end of the elevator conveyor;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a broiler house incorporating an alternateembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a pictorial illustration of a cover plate for the channel; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of a broiler houseincorporating a ventilation system with the transporting system of theinvention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is diagrammatically illustrateda broiler house having side walls 10 and l 1, end walls 12 and 13 and aroof structure 14. The broiler house may be of any conventional designsuitable for housing broilers for feeding. Generally such broiler housesare about 30 to 40 feet wide and about 300 feet long and accomodateabout 15,000 birds.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a linear trench or channel20 is substantially centrally located in the floor of the housetraversing a major portion of the length thereof. The trench or channel20 may contain a suitable liner 21 such as wood or concrete which actsas a housing for an endless conveyor belt 22. The channel may be aboutl2 to about 18 inches in width and adapted to accomodate a conveyor beltof similar dimensions.

A channel plate 23 is suspended between blocks 24 which are in turnsupported by wall members 25 defining the opening of the channel. Thesurface of the channel plate 23 is preferably about 10 inches below thelevel of the floor of the house. The return side of endless conveyorbelt 22 may be supported within the channel by suitable rollers 26 andmay be driven by conventional drive and tension means (not shown) or bydrive means as hereinafter described. 7

As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1 channel 20 extends throughone end wall 12 of the broiler house. Approximately three to five feetof the channel 20 adjacent the exit end wall and that portion of thechannel extending outside the broiler house are covered by ahalf-cylindrical shroud 30 or a flat cover.

It will thus be observed that shroud 30 in cooperation with the sidewalls 25 forms a tunnel with the conveyor belt 22 forming a moving floortherein.

A catching fence 31 attached at the open end of the shroud 30 within thebroiler house extends to the walls 10 and 11 on opposite sides of thechannel. Catching fence 31 is preferably slightly diagonally disposedforming a V to assist in crowding the birds toward the open end of thetunnel. Catching fence 31 is preferably a screen or the like which maybe rolled or folded for storage or transport when not in use.

A chaser fence 40 is mounted on a sled 41 adapted to ride in thechannel. Sled 4i preferably comprises a rectangular frame 42 supportedby casters Casters 48 are adapted to ride on the shoulder formed bymounting blocks 24 within the confines of side walls 25. Accordingly,the side walls 25 and support blocks 24 form a track and guide for thesled 41. Chaser fence 40 is preferably formed of self-supporting tubularaluminum gridwork or the like suspended from vertically extendingmounting standards 43 on the sled 41. The chaser fence 443 preferablyextends outwardly and forwardly from the sled toward the outer walls andill of the broiler house and is preferably suspended vertically slightlyabove the floor. Where the span of the chaser fence 40 is too long to beself-supporting, outrigger casters (not shown) may be attached to thechaser fence to support the outer portions thereof.

An electrical shock wire 45 connected to a suitable power source (notshown) mounted on insulators 46 may be suspended along the side and nearthe bottom of the fence 40 to encourage movement of the birds away fromthe chaser fence as the fence is moved. Since the apparatus willordinarily be used in darkness, low power lights 47 may be disposedalong the chaser fence 40 to illuminate the area immediately adjacentthe moving fence.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the chaser fence 40 iscomprised of a substantially rigid telescoping frame to allow adjustmentof the length thereof. Accordingly the length of the chaser fence may beadjusted to extend fully from the support sled 41 to walls 10 and 11.Chaser fence 40 is also preferably hingedly mounted on the support sled41 to allow pivitol movement of the fence in the horizontal plane.Braces 44- projecting laterally from the support sled 41 to the fence 40are preferably telescoping and spring loaded to maintain the chaserfence in a position projecting slightly forwardly from the support sled41. Since the braces 44 are spring loaded, erratic movement of thesupport sled 41 will cause the fence so to move in an oscillatory orerratic flapping motion which aids in urging the birds toward thecatching fence 31.

Since the fence 40 is supported and projects forwardly from the supportsled 41, suitable counterweights 50 may be positioned on the supportsled 41 to counterbalance the apparatus. The support sled and chaserfence 40 may be moved laterally along the channel by any conventionalmeans such as a hand or power wench 51 attached to the support sledwhich winds up cable (not shown) attached to the opposite end of thebroiler house. Alternatively, power means may be mounted on the sled todrive it in either direction. Other suitable means for moving thesupport sled will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

It will be readily understood that part of the poultry catchingapparatus described hereinabove may be formed as an integral part of thebroiler house structure and used only on a periodic basis for catchingand loading the broilers at the time they reach slaughter age.Accordingly, when not in use the conveyor channel 20 traversing thefloor of the broiler house may be covered with a suitable temporarycover 20a.

Since the poultry handling system will ordinarily be used on a periodicbasis, cost of installation may be minimized by installing only theconveyor channel in each house. The conveyor belt may be readily removedand used in connection with a plurality of broiler houses equipped withsimilar channels. Accordingly, as the belt is withdrawn from thechannel, it may be replaced by a small cable which will remain in thechannel and provide means for rethreading the belt through the channel.

Chaser fence 40 may be collapsible to facilitate storage thereof whennot in use yet provide ease of assembly for operation. Likewise, where aplurality of houses are equiped with similar channel installations, asingle chaser fence and sled 41 may be used. Therefore, fence 40 andsled 41 are preferably adapted to be collapsible and easily transported.Furthermore, catching fence 31 may also be transportable for the samereasons.

When assembled for operation, catching fence 31 is erected asillustrated in FIG. 1 and sled 41 positioned at the end of channel 26opposite the entrance to the tunnel.

The chaser fence 40 is erected with the broilers confined within thearea defined by the walls 10 and 11, catching fence 3i and chaser fence40. The sled 41 is then slowly or erratically advanced along the channelwith chaser fence extending from the sled to the walls on opposite sidesthereof. As the sled traverses the channel the space between the chaserfence 40 and catching fence 31 diminishes, thereby causing the birds tobe crowded onto the conveyor belt.

The catching operation is preferably performed at night or in darkenedconditions. Accordingly, as the birds are crowded they will move ontothe moving con veyor belt. When on the moving conveyor belt the birdsgenerally crouch and remain motionless and are moved through the tunnelto the exit. it will thus be observed as the space between the catcherfence and the chaser fence diminishes all the birds in the house will beforced onto the conveyor belt without being individually handled. It hasbeen discovered that when the birds are placed on the moving conveyorbelt, they tend to crouch and remain motionless with respect to thebelt. The birds may then be readily transported by the conveyor belt ina manner as if they were inanimate.

When the birds reach the exit end of the conveyor belt they are forcedoff the belt by a shear 53 extending diagonally across the belt. Sincethe belt is continuously moving, when the birds reach the shear 53 theyare forced to move or pushed off the belt through an exit in the side ofthe shroud 30.

in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the chaserfence and the belt conveyor 22 move in the same direction. it has beenobserved, however, that the birds are sometimes crowded too denselyadjacent the catcher fence 31 and on the belt 22 at the entrance to theshroud 30, thus injuring some of the birds as they enter the shroud. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the portion of shroud 30 extendingwithin the walls of the broiler house and the catcher fence 31 iseliminated. Sled 41 and chaser fence 40 are then positioned on thetracks in channel 20 near the exit end of the channel with the fence 40projecting slightly diagonally in the direction opposite the exit end.The birds are therefore confined between the fence 40, walls and 11, andthe opposite end wall 13. The procedure for crowding the birds onto theconveyor is essentially the same as described with reference to FIG. 1,however, in this embodiment the conveyor belt 22 and the chaser fence 40move in opposite directions. It will thus be observed that as the chaserfence approaches the end wall 13, the birds will be crowded toward theopen channel 20 containing the moving conveyor belt. When the birds fallinto the open channel, they crouch and remain motionless with respect tothe belt and are transported through the open channel 20, under the sled41, and into the tunnel extending outside the end wall 12. Since thebelt 22 is always moving away from the crowd of birds, they cannot bunchup in such numbers as to suffocate or cause themselves injury. Since thebelt 22 is disposed about 10 inches below the floor level, a shroud isnot necessary to keep the birds on the conveyor.

Since the conveyor channel is centrally disposed in the floor of thebroiler house, it may be advantageously used as a duct for distributingheating, cooling or recirculating air through the structure. As shown inFIG. 10, a return air conduit 101 may be positioned internally near theroof of the house and connected to the channel 20 through a blower 102.Air inside the house may be withdrawn through the return air duct 101and recirculated through the house as indicated by the arrows in FIG.10. A cover for the channel 20 may be provided in short sections 20a asshown in FIG. 11. The cover sections 20a are provided with outletregisters or pipes 103 projecting upwardly from the channel to directair into the broiler house near floor level. In order to utilize theentire channel 20 as an air duct, small holes (not shown) may be formedin the channel plate 23 to allow air to pass therethrough.

In colder temperatures the air may be simple recirculated to providesufficient ventilation. If cooling is desired, an inlet 104 and valve105 may be provided in the return air conduit to permit mixing of cooloutside air with the recirculating air. Likewise, in warmertemperatures, the recirculating air may be passed through a coolingtower (not shown) or the like to provide cooling for the house.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the birds are transferredfrom the exit of the channel 20 into an elevator conveyor apparatus asillustrated in FIG. 4. The elevator conveyor is preferably comprised ofa moveable or self-propelled vehicle generally indicated at 60 having aframe 61 and wheels 62. An articulated frame 63is mounted thereon forsupporting an endless conveyor belt 64. Frame 63 is pivotally mounted onframe 61 by means of a pair of hydraulic cylinders 65 attached to theframe 61 and hingedly attached to the lower end of conveyor frame 63.Accordingly, by means of hydraulic cylinders 65 the height of the loweror entrance end of the elevator conveyor can be adjusted as desired.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 the elevator-conveyor 60 is preferably disposedabout three feet below the floor level of the broiler house so that theexit from shroud 30 may be aligned with the entrance to the elevator.

This may be conveniently accomplished by elevating the end of theconveyor or by lowering the level of the ground at the end of thebroiler house as illustrated in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 5 conveyor frame 63 is comprised of a pair of opposedparallel side members 66 with a belt tray 67 supported therebetween. Theconveyor frame 63 is articulated having a first elevator section 63a anda cantilevered delivery section 63b hingedly attached to and forming anextension at the end of the first section.

Delivery section 63b is maintained substantially horizontal at all timesregardless of the angle of the first section 630 by means of hydrauliccylinders 69.

The angle of the first section 63a, and thus the height of deliverysection 63b, is varied as desired by sissortype expandable mounting bars68 activated by hydraulic cylinder 69a.

An endless conveyor belt 64 is mounted for movement between the sidemembers 66 riding on support tray 67. The belt is powered by a driveroller 70 mounted between the side members 66 at the lower end. Theroller 70 is driven by drive belt 71 and power source 72.

If desired, the same power source 72 may be used to drive the conveyorbelt 22 by use of a suitable power transmitting shaft 72a.Alternatively, hydraulic motors may be used to drive both conveyorbelts, the hydraulic power for driving such motors being produced by asuitable pump on the elevator-conveyor vehicle 60. A second roller 73 ismounted at the end of the second section 63b. Since the distancetraversed by belt 64 will vary slightly as the angle between sections63a and 63b is varied, roller 73 is preferably mounted between a pair oflongitudinally extending bars 74 slideably attached to side members 66.Compression springs 75 encircling bars 74 provide tension on belt 64 byurging the roller 73 away from the frame 63b, thereby maintainingtension on the belt 64 at all times while allowing the length of theconveyor to vary as the height of the delivery section is varied.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 the top portion of the elevator conveyor iscovered with a shroud 76 attached to side members 66 to form an enclosedtunnel with the moving conveyor belt 64 forming a moving floor therein.Shroud 76 has a side entrance at the lower end thereof and a side exit78 at the top end thereof. A shear 77 is moveably mounted on thedelivery section 63a and cooperates with exit 78 to force the birds fromthe conveyor belt 64 into the waiting cages 79. The shroud 76 coveringthe top portion of delivery section 63b should be collapsible ortelescopic so that the end shear 77 and exit 78 may be moved to traversethe full length of the delivery section 63b, thereby permitting theoperator to move the exit 78 from one cage to the next and distributebirds in adjacent cages in a continuous process.

Cages 79 are preferably mounted in superimposed tiers on a transportvehicle. Accordingly as the cages in the first tier are filled theelevation of delivery section 63b is adjusted so that exit 78 coincideswith an open door in a cage in an adjacent tier until all the cages inthe transport vehicle are filled.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the elevator conveyor may be adjusted inheight to accomodate loading the tiered cages without moving thetransport vehicle or the elevator 60. When all cages at the first levelare filled, cylinders 69 and 69a are activated to raise or lower thedelivery end and maintain the delivery section substantially horizontal.The birds are then loaded into the next tier of cages.

Since the elevator conveyor apparatus 60 is mobile, it may be rapidlymoved for use at different broiler houses. Therefore, while each househas a permanently installed channel, only one elevator conveyor isrequired to service a large number of broiler houses.

It will be observed that a minimum crew of two people is required tooperate the entire system; one to operate the chaser fence and sled andone to operate the delivery end of the elevator. Nevertheless with onlytwo people operating the apparatus, the entire flock may be rapidlyremoved from the broiler house and loaded in transport cages withoutindividual handling of any bird.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the birds in the broilerhouse are never individually handled, instead they are crowded onto amoving conveyor and handled in a continuous volume process until thecages in the transport vehicle are filled.

Since the conveyor channel 20 is permanently installed in the floor ofthe broiler house as described hereinabove, it may be utilized forpurposes other than loading broilers. For example, litter may be removedfrom the broiler house by dumping same on a conveyor belt for deposit ona truck or the like outside the broiler house in the same manner as thebroilers are moved.

Since the top of conveyor channel 20 is essentially at floor level,litter scoops or buckets 200 drawn by cables 201 passing through supportpulleys 202 attached to the walls of the house may be used to movelitter onto the moving conveyor for cleaning the broiler house. Thecable 201 may be powered by any suitable power source such as a tractor203 or the like outside the broiler house. it will be readily apparentthat pulleys 202 may be detachably mounted on the supporting sidestructure of the broiler house and moved as desired to allow theoperator to clean the entire floor of the broiler house.

It will be observed that the installation of permanent apparatus in eachindividual broiler house may be limited to construction of the channel20 containing channel plate 23 and suitable hardware for mounting therequired pulleys and rollers. The other components of the system, suchas the catching fence 31, the chaser fence 40 and sled 41, the conveyorbelt 22, and the elevator 60 may be readily moved from broiler house tobroiler house as desired. Therefore only one of each of the lattercomponents will adequately serve a large number of broiler houses, thusminimizing the capital investment per house.

From the foregoing it will be observed that. the apparatus describedprovides rapid and inexpensive means for collecting and caging birdsfrom a broiler house without injuring the birds. It will be readilyappreciated, however, that the apparatus may be used for collecting andcaging other birds, such as turkeys, and is not necessarily limited touse for broilers.

While the invention has been described with particular reference tospecific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the form ofthe invention shown and described in detail is to be taken as thepreferred embodiment of same, and that various changes and modificationsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an enclosed structure suitable for use as apoultry house and having a floor, and walls, side walls and a roof;poultry catching apparatus comprising: I

a. a channel traversing a major portion of the floor of said enclosedstructure and extending through one end thereof;

. an endless belt conveyor mounted for longitudinal movement within saidchannel, the top surface of said endless belt disposed substantiallyhorizontal and below the level of said floor;

. means covering the top of said conveyor belt and channel outside saidenclosed structure, thereby forming a tunnel with a moving floor havingan open entrance within said enclosed structure and an exit outside saidstructure;

. means for urging birds onto said endless belt conveyor comprising:

i. support means adapted to traverse at least a major portion of saidchannel within said enclosed structure;

ii. fence means suspended from said support means and extending fromsaid support means to said walls of said enclosed structure; and

iii. means for moving said support means and said fence means;

and

. covered elevator means for collecting birds at the exit end of saidtunnel and placing said birds into cages.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means covering the topof said conveyor belt and channel extends through the end wall of saidenclosed structure and covers a portion of said conveyor belt withinsaid structure, and including means extending from the entrance of saidtunnel to the walls of said enclosed structure for directing birds intosaid open entrance.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the top side of said endlessconveyor belt is drawn over a support plate having a substantially flatbase, upstanding walls, and laterally projecting flanges; and saidchannel has vertical side walls adjacent to and extending above saidflanges, said conveyor belt riding on said substantially flat basebetween said upstanding walls.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said support means comprisesa table mounted on casters adapted to ride on said laterally projectingflanges of said support plate between said vertical side walls.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 including electrical shocking meansprojecting from said fence means on the side thereof facing said tunnel.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said fence means comprises arigid frame hingedly attached to said support means and adapted formovement in the horizontal plane, and includes telescoping spring loadedbraces extending laterally from said support means to said fence means.

7. The apparatus defined in claim I wherein said means covering the topof said conveyor belt has an opening on the side thereof near the exitend aligned with shear means for urging birds from said endless belttoward said opening.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1 including stationary fence meansextending from the walls of said structure to the open entrance of saidtunnel and aligned to crowd birds onto said endless belt conveyor.

9. The method of collecting and removing live birds from a poultry housecomprising the steps of:

a. disposing an endless conveyor belt in a channel traversing asubstantial portion of the length of said poultry house, the top of saidbelt being disposed below the surface of the floor of said poultryhouse;

. moving the top surface of said endless belt in a first directiontoward an opening in the end wall of said house;

. disposing a moveable fence within said house near and approximatelyparallel with the end wall of said house having the said openingtherein; and

. moving said moveable fence along said channel in the directionopposite the movement of said conveyor belt, thereby crowding said livebirds onto said endless conveyor belt.

10. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein said top surface of saidconveyor belt is disposed about 10 inches below the level of the floorof said house.

11. In combination with a structure for use as a broiler house having aroof, side walls, end walls, and a 10 floor; apparatus comprising:

a. a channel longitudinally disposed in said floor and traversingsubstantially the length of said house; an endless conveyor belt forremoving poultry and litter from said house, means for supporting saidendless conveyor belt within said channel, the top surface of saidconveyor belt being disposed approximately 10 inches below the level ofsaid floor, one end of said conveyor belt exiting through one end ofsaid house;

. removeable cover means covering said channel, thereby forming a duct,said cover means having openings therein allowing fluid communicationbetween the interior of said house and said duct; air collection meansdisposed within the interior of said house near said roof; and

duct and blower means interconnecting said channel and said aircollection means.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 1 including an inlet in said ductmeans for mixing ambient air with the recirculating air.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 1 including means for cooling theair passing through said duct and blower means.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including a litter scoop adapted toremove litter from the floor of said house and deposit said litter insaid channel, and means for urging said litter scoop toward saidchannel.

1. In combination with an enclosed structure suitable for use as apoultry house and having a floor, and walls, side walls and a roof;poultry catching apparatus comprising: a. a channel traversing a majorportion of the floor of said enclosed structure and extending throughone end thereof; b. an endless belt conveyor mounted for longitudinalmovement within said channel, the top surface of said endless beltdisposed substantially horizontal and below the level of said floor; c.means covering the top of said conveyor belt and channel outside saidenclosed structure, thereby forming a tunnel with a moving floor havingan open entrance within said enclosed structure and an exit outside saidstructure; d. means for urging birds onto said endless belt conveyorcomprising: i. support means adapted to traverse at least a majorportion of said channel within said enclosed structure; ii. fence meanssuspended from said support means and extending from said support meansto said walls of said enclosed structure; and iii. means for moving saidsupport means and said fence means; and e. covered elevator means forcollecting birds at the exit end of said tunnel and placing said birdsinto cages.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said meanscovering the top of said conveyor belt and channel extends through theend wall of said enclosed structure and covers a portion of saidconveyor belt within said structure, and including means extending fromthe entrance of said tunnel to the walls of said enclosed structure fordirecting birds into said open entrance.
 3. The apparatus defined inclaim 1 wherein the top side of said endless conveyor belt is drawn overa support plate having a substantially flat base, upstanding walls, andlaterally projecting flanges; and said channel has vertical side wallsadjacent to and extending above said flanges, said conveyor belt ridingon said substantially flat base between said upstanding walls.
 4. Theapparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said support means comprises atable mounted on casters adapted to ride on said laterally projectingflanges of said support plate between said vertical side walls.
 5. Theapparatus defined in claim 4 including electrical shocking meansprojecting from said fence means on the side thereof facing said tunnel.6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said fence means comprises arigid frame hingedly attached to said support means and adapted formovement in the horizontal plane, and includes telescoping spring loadedbraces extending laterally from said support means to said fence means.7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means covering the topof said conveyor belt has an opening on the side thereof near the exitend aligned with shear means for urging birds from said endless belttoward said opening.
 8. The apparatus defined in claim 1 includingstationary fence means extending from the walls of said structure to theopen entrance of said tunnel and aligned to crowd birds onto saidendless belt conveyor.
 9. The method of collecting and removing livebirds from a poultry house comprising the steps of: a. disposing anendLess conveyor belt in a channel traversing a substantial portion ofthe length of said poultry house, the top of said belt being disposedbelow the surface of the floor of said poultry house; b. moving the topsurface of said endless belt in a first direction toward an opening inthe end wall of said house; c. disposing a moveable fence within saidhouse near and approximately parallel with the end wall of said househaving the said opening therein; and d. moving said moveable fence alongsaid channel in the direction opposite the movement of said conveyorbelt, thereby crowding said live birds onto said endless conveyor belt.10. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein said top surface of saidconveyor belt is disposed about 10 inches below the level of the floorof said house.
 11. In combination with a structure for use as a broilerhouse having a roof, side walls, end walls, and a floor; apparatuscomprising: a. a channel longitudinally disposed in said floor andtraversing substantially the length of said house; b. an endlessconveyor belt for removing poultry and litter from said house, means forsupporting said endless conveyor belt within said channel, the topsurface of said conveyor belt being disposed approximately 10 inchesbelow the level of said floor, one end of said conveyor belt exitingthrough one end of said house; c. removeable cover means covering saidchannel, thereby forming a duct, said cover means having openingstherein allowing fluid communication between the interior of said houseand said duct; d. air collection means disposed within the interior ofsaid house near said roof; and e. duct and blower means interconnectingsaid channel and said air collection means.
 12. Apparatus as defined inclaim 11 including an inlet in said duct means for mixing ambient airwith the recirculating air.
 13. Apparatus as defined in claim 11including means for cooling the air passing through said duct and blowermeans.
 14. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including a litter scoopadapted to remove litter from the floor of said house and deposit saidlitter in said channel, and means for urging said litter scoop towardsaid channel.